The leader of Reading Borough Council has written to Prime Minister David Cameron to tell him the Government’s proposed scaling back of incentives to install solar panels has “undermined” the council, will put jobs at risk and will impact on householders, schools and businesses in Reading

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The leader of Reading Borough Council has written to Prime Minister David Cameron to tell him the Government’s proposed scaling back of incentives to install solar panels has “undermined” the council, will put jobs at risk and will impact on householders, schools and businesses in Reading.

The coalition Government has proposed a 50 per cent cut in payments to organisations and individuals who install solar panels, known as ‘feed-in tariffs’.

The move could affect up to 40 schools in Reading, 20 community buildings and anyone who wanted to install a solar panel on their home.

A drop in feed-in tariffs was expected in April next year but the Government plans to introduce the cut as early as Monday, December 12.

When the Government announced the plans at the end of October, Reading Borough Council feared it would price it out of carrying out many of its 60 planned schemes and now, after council officers carried out detailed research, it has confirmed this is the case. Officers will now look to see exactly how many – if any – of its planned schemes will be able to go ahead.

Councillor Jo Lovelock has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to extend the period when people would be eligible for feed-in tariffs until April.

She has also asked that when the Government does cut the tariff it does so by an amount comparable to the cost of installing solar panels and that there is a higher tariff available to the greenest schemes.

In her letter Cllr Lovelock says: “Reading Borough Council has developed a scheme to put solar panels on to the roofs of school, corporate and community buildings in the borough.

“Some 40 schools, 20 community buildings and additional council buildings would have benefitted.

“The council has committed over £5m to support the scheme and committed substantial sums in project and procurement costs.

“The council is now having to reconsider its scheme and, although it may proceed with marginal projects, the risks and project costs may now lead to a significant cost impact on the council.

“Our intention to lead by example has been undermined.

“The council’s concerns relate to our community – particularly those in or at risk of fuel poverty, local jobs in jeopardy, the council’s ability to provide low carbon energy and making a step change in renewable energy across the borough.”

Cllr Lovelock also said the move would affect solar energy companies in the area and could cause job losses or even the collapse of small companies.

The plans could also impact on Reading’s involvement in 10:10 – an international carbon reduction programme which launched a project in Reading to help schools raise funds to buy their own solar panels in September.

Speaking to getreading at a briefing on last Monday, Cllr Lovelock said: “The previous deadline was tight enough but this has pulled the rug out from everyone’s feet.

“It makes me so angry that this Government claimed to be the greenest in history but in doing this they’ve fallen at the first hurdle.”